Evidence suggests that substantial proportions of adolescents, regardless of ethnicity or gender, are engaged in excessive weight control behaviors. Crago and Shisslak (2003), however, have noted that small samples and poorly validated instruments have limited the value of previous ethnic difference studies. Using the McKnight Risk Factor Survey, we compared Native American, White, and Hispanic adolescents. Native students were divided into groups with one (NA-mixed) or two (NA) Native American biological parents. Surveys were completed by 5 th through 10 th grade students. BMI z-scores were significantly higher for boys and girls in the NA group, and boys in this group were significantly more engaged in weight control behaviors, including purging. A higher percentage of Native and Hispanic girls preferred a larger body size. BMI was positively correlated with weight and shape concerns and with weight control behaviors, regardless of ethnicity or gender. Overweight among Native adolescents may put them at greater risk for eating problems than their White peers. KeywordsBMI; body image; weight concern; eating disorders; risk factors; weight control behaviors; size preference; McKnight Risk Factor Survey Ethnic Differences in BMI, Weight Concerns, and Eating Behaviors: Comparison of Native American, White, and Hispanic AdolescentsBody dissatisfaction, fear of weight gain, appearance concerns, weight and shape concerns, and higher BMIs among adolescents are associated with increased risk for eating disorders (Killen et al., 1994; Shisslak et al., Stice, 1998;1998;Story et al., 1991;Striegel-Moore, Silberstein, & Rodin, 1986). In addition, recent studies suggest that substantial proportions of most ethnic groups and both genders are engaged in sometimes-excessive weight control behaviors (e.g., Croll, Neumark-Sztainer, Story, & Ireland, 2002;Taylor et al., 2003). In a recent review, however, Crago et al. (2003) noted that small sample sizes and poorly validated Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript assessment instruments have limited the usefulness of many studies of ethnic differences. In one of the few studies of Native American eating problems using validated behavioral measures, Smith and Krejci (1991) studied Native adolescents (~15 years old) from Pueblos in Southwestern USA and found that, compared to their Caucasian peers, a greater percentage of Native participants reported binge eating, vomiting and fear of gaining weight. In a recent large-scale survey of ...

The developmental path leading to eating disorders among adolescent girls often proceeds from increasing body size, to increasing body dissatisfaction, to increasing ED risk. To determine whether body dissatisfaction (BD) mediates the association between body size and risky weight control behaviors, we examined data from White (n = 709) and Native American (n = 253) girls, who differ substantially in terms of average body mass and reported weight control behaviors. Measures of BD included weight, shape, and appearance concerns. Measures of ED-risk included dieting, exercising to control weight, binge eating, and vomiting. Results showed body dissatisfaction was a highly significant mediator of the relationship between BMI and ED risk for both ethnic groups; although BD did not mediate the association between BMI and binge eating for either group. BD is apparently an important mediator of the association between body size and some, but not all, risky weight control behaviors.